From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Jun 3: The mortal remains of His Eminence Simon Cardinal Lourdusamy, who passed away in the early morning of June 2 in Rome, will be brought to India for the last rites and the funeral ceremony will most probably take place on next Monday (June 9) or Tuesday (June 10) at Pondicherry.
There will be a Missa Corram Corpore on June 5 at 11.30 am at the Vatican Basilica’s altar, which will be presided over by Cardinal Angelo Sodano, Dean of the College of Cardinals.
Pope Francis will be administering the rites of ''Ultima Commendatio" and ''Valedictio" to the departed soul on June 5, Thursday, according to an official press release from the Archbishop of Bangalore Dr Bernard Moras.
Pope Francis has sent a telegram of condolences to Archbishop Anthony Anandarayar of Pondicherry and Cuddalore, India, for the death of Cardinal Simon D Lourdusamy, aged 90, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches and Archbishop Emeritus of Bangalore, India.
The Pope expresses his gratitude for the Cardinal's “priestly life spent in spreading the Gospel first in India and subsequently in service to the Universal Church" and commends his noble soul to the Lord.
The Archbishop, who is also the President of Karnataka Region Catholic Bishops’ Conference, has in a condolence message has deeply mourned the death of Cardinal Lourdusamy and gratefully acknowledge his dedicated services to the Archdiocese and the Church in Karnataka.
''On behalf of the Bishops of the Karnataka Region, Priests, Religious and Lay faithful, and particularly, on behalf of the Archbishops Emeriti Archbishop Alphonsus Mathias and Archbishop Ignatius Pinto, Priests, Religious and Lay faithful of the Archdiocese, I express our heartfelt sympathies and prayerful support to the Cardinal’s bereaved family members," Archbishop Moras said.
The Archbishop has also requested all the priests and religious and faithful to offer special Mass and prayers for the late Prelate, Cardinal Simon Lourdusamy, and to pray for the repose of his soul.
The Archdiocesan Priests are requested to offer three Masses for Cardinal Lourdusamy, who celebrated his 90th birthday at the Vatican on February 5, the Archbishop said adding: '' May his soul rest in peace."
Served as Archbishop of Bangalore
Cardinal Lourdusamy, who has the distinction of serving as the Archbishop of Bangalore, succeeded the late Archbishop Thomas Pothacamury as Archbishop of Bangalore on January 11, 1968.
As Archbishop of Bangalore, he also served as Chairman of the National Liturgical commission of India, founded the National Biblical, Catechetical and Liturgical Centre in Bangalore. Prior to the International Eucharistic Congress in Bogota in 1968, he was invited as panel member of the International Catechetical study week in Medellin, Colombia.
Pope Paul VI appointed him as Secretary adjunct of the Sacred Congregation (S.C.) for the Evangelization of Peoples on March 2, 1971.
He resigned as Archbishop of Bangalore on April 30, 1971 and left India to serve in the Curial Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in March 1971, Secretary of the S.C. for the Evangelization of Peoples, President of the Pontifical Missionary Work and Vice-Grand chancellor of the Pontifical Urbanian University, 26 February 1973, the same University at which he was a student from 1953–56. He was the first Asian to become a member of the Roman Curia.
Cardinal Duraisamy Simon Lourdusamy was born on February 5, 1924 in Kalleri (Archdiocese of Pondicherry), India as the seventh of twelve children, of Annamarie and Duraisamy Simon.
Cardinal Lourdusamy was the elder brother of priest and theologian the late Fr D S Amalorpavadass, who was killed in an automobile accident while travelling from Mysore to Bangalore. The two of them were credited with playing most significant roles with the implementation of Vatican II Council reforms in India and leading others to do the same.
Did Major Seminary Education in Bangalore
He had his early education at St. Anne's in Tindivanam; and finished his high school studies at St. Joseph Higher School of Cuddalore; then, he entered St. Agnes's Minor Seminary in Cuddalore; completed major seminary education in Philosophy and Theology at St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary, Bangalore during 1946–1951.
He was ordained to the priesthood on December 21, 1951 at Seven Dollars Church, Tindivanam, Pondicherry by Archbishop Auguste-Siméon Colas, MEP, the then Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore. He was the Classmate of our Archdiocesan priest, Rev. Fr N.C. Joseph who is presently residing at our Clergy Home.
As an young priest, Fr Lourdusamy began his pastoral ministry in the Archdiocese of Pondicherry. After studying further at Loyola College in Madras (1952–1953), he was sent to Rome to pursue higher studies in the area of Canon Law at the Pontifical Urbaniana University (1953–1956) from where he obtained a doctorate. He obtained 100% in all of his exams in canon law studies, something which had never occurred in other Roman Universities before or after.
On returning to the Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore, Fr Lourdusamy served as Archdiocesan Chancellor and private secretary to Archbishop Ambrose Rayappan, as Editor of the Archdiocesan weekly "Sarva viyabhi", and was the choir master at the Cathedral in Pondicherry, Director of the Catholic Doctors' Guild; Director of the Catholic Nurses' Guild, Director of the Newman Association; Director of the Catholic University Students Union. He was a musician and had composed several devotional songs.
Pope John XXIII appointed Fr Lourdusamy as Auxiliary Bishop of Bangalore and Titular Bishop of Sozusa in Libya on 2 July 1962. He received his Episcopal Consecration on the following 22 August from Archbishop Ambrose Rayappan. His Episcopical Motto was: Aedificare domum Dei which means To build the house of God.
''Council Father" in Vatican Council II
Cardinal Lourdusamy attended the Second Vatican Council (Sessions 2, 3 and 4 as a Council Father). On November 9, 1964, he was promoted to titular Archbishop of Filippi and was appointed the Coadjutor Archbishop of Bangalore.
He attended, the First Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, 29 September to October 29, 1967. He was appointed to represent the Indian Bishops at the Pan Asiatic Catechetic-Liturgical Conference, Manila, 1967 and was elected the Vice-President of the Conference and President of the Liturgical Section there.
Pope John Paul II created Lourdusamy Cardinal-Deacon of Santa Maria delle Grazie alle Fornaci fuori Porta Cavalleggeri in the consistory of 25 May, 1985. He was the 4th Cardinal from India and the first Curial Cardinal of Asia outside of the Middle East. Cardinal Lourdusamy was named Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches on 30 October, 1985 and later resigned the post on 24 May, 1991.
He attended the Second Extraordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, 24 November to 8 December, 1985, and the Seventh on October 1 to 30, 1987. He was the Special Papal Envoy to the closing ceremonies of the Year of St. Willibrord, Luxemburg, on June 3 to 5, 1990.
He attended the Eighth Ordinary Assembly of the Synod of Bishops, Vatican City, September 30 to October 28, 1990.
He became Cardinal Proto-deacon (the senior Cardinal-Deacon) on April 5, 1993, and served as a special papal legate to the funeral of Blessed Mother Teresa on September 13, 1997. He chose to become a Cardinal-Priest on January 29, 1996.
Recognizing his expertise, how well he prepared for and made outstanding contributions in every interactions, Pope John Paul II appointed him a member of several important Departments of the Roman Curia: such as Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, Congregation for Catholic Education, Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, Pontifical Commission for the Revision of the Code of Canon Law, Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, just to mentions a few of them.
After his retirement, he continued live in Rome till his death. Except for his dementia, he did not have any serious health problem. During his earthly life, the loving God blessed him with knowledge, spirit of hard work and dedication, and pastoral expertise, says a press release issued by the Archbishop of Bangalore.